Teresa was born in Avila, Spain, in 1515. She entered the Carmelites and made great progress in the way of perfection and was granted mystical revelations. Wishing to share in the spiritual renewal of the Church of her time, she began to live her religious life more ardently and soon attracted many companions, to whom she was like a mother. She also helped in the reform of the Carmelite friars, and in this had to endure great trials. She wrote books which are renowned for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual experience. She died at Alba de Tormes, Spain, in 1582. In 1972, Pope Paul VI named her, along with St. Catherine of Siena, the first female Doctor of the Church.<<Back to Our Saints || Next>>